, our country has fallen into what i'll call a new normal. slow economic growth, high unemployment, stagnant wages. >> people on the streets right now are protesting because they want a higher minimum wage. they are saying they're not feeling it. >> the fact is the president has long supported policies and continues to support policies and has taken action on policies that go right at this issue. that work is not done. >> reporter: and there was one small glimmer of hope for bipartisanship on the economy. president obama called for an extension of the unemployment benefits by the end of the year and after hearing that house speaker john boehner said he will take a look at it. the way things have been going here in washington lately, wolf, that almost qualifies as a holiday miracle. >> that's a good point as well. jim acosta, thanks very much. gloria borger is here. she's our chief political analyst. why isn't the white house, gloria, making more of these positive numbers? >> you know, as jim is pointing out, look, the white house understands